Will a Carbonate React with Carbonic Acid? A Chemical Reaction Explanation

[sgstudent]

hi i was wondering if a carbonate will react with carbonic acid. such as calcium carbonate with carbonic acid: CaCO3+H2CO3CaCO3+CO2+H2O. Thanks for the help!

 

[Borek]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karst#Chemistry

 

[sgstudent]

Thanks for the help! Borek!

 

[tex43]

Carbonic acid doesn't exist in the free state. When CO2 dissoves in water an equilibrium is set up between CO2 molecules (possibly solvated) and water on one hand and an aquated proton (a hygrogen ion) and the aquated hydrogencarbonate ion on the other. The concentration of hydrogen ions is too low to react with carbonate ions from the calcium carbonate so no reaction! Or in other words, the pH of "dissolved CO2" is not low enough to allow reaction with carbonate ions. In any acid-base reaction the acid must be acidic enough to react with the base which is why carboxylic acids (like acetic acid) react with hydrogencarbonate but phenols don't.
Hope this helps.

 

[LudusRex]

Hello! Thank you for your question. Yes, a carbonate can react with carbonic acid to form carbon dioxide and water. This reaction is known as a decomposition reaction, where a compound breaks down into simpler substances. In this case, calcium carbonate (CaCO3) breaks down into calcium oxide (CaO) and carbon dioxide (CO2) in the presence of carbonic acid (H2CO3). This reaction is commonly seen in nature, such as in the formation of stalactites and stalagmites in caves. I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any further questions.